Wireholder for pipe mounting



Nov. 17, 1959 R. J. BERTLING 2,913,203

WIREHOLDER Fofi'PIP'E MOUNTING Filed July 5, 1956 4 6 Pi 1 l 15 7 06:!

06: II otEE IN VEN TOR.

RONALD J. BERTLING ATTORANEY United States Patent WIREHOLDER FOR PIPE MOUNTING Ronald J. Bertling, South Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to McGraw-Edison Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July '5, 1956, Serial No. 596,106

3 Claims. (Cl. 24867 .7)

The present invention relates to conductor supports, and particularly to what is commonly known as a wireholder for dead-ending or supporting a service tap conductor from a pipe mast.

In connecting electric service wires from a pole line to a building, electric service companies and electrical codes established by various communities require that the conductors be attached to the building at prescribed minimum elevations above ground level. With the recent advent of one story dwellings, such as bungalows and so-oalled ranch houses, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain these minimum elevations, and practically impossible to dead-end the conductors on vertical walls high enough to meet the minimum requirements, at least at the point closest to the power line where it is desired to have the conductors enter the building.

It has recently become the practice to provide service masts projecting above the roof line of the building to 2,913,203 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 relative to one another on a tubular service mast 2. The mast is usually constructed from a metal pipe or the like, preferably round in cross-section of any suitable length, and which supplies the necessary height for supporting the bracket assembly above minimum elevation requirements. The upper portion of the mast 2 is preferably provided with a slipfitter entrance head 3,

adapted to receive the service lead-in conductors 4, 5 and 6, which are each preferably electrically engaged with the service drop conductors 7, 8 and 9, respectively, by means of connectors 10. The lead-in conductors are threaded through the head 3 of the tubular mast 2, and downwardly relative to Fig. 1 to a conventional meter box (not shown) connected to the lower end of the mast. The mast may be mounted in many ways, either totally exteriorly of the building roof, or as shown, through a roof flashing member 11 mounted directly to the roof 12.

As shown, the present bracket is adapted for dead-end support of individual conductors 7, 8 and 9 connected under conventional practice directly to the wireholder insulator 15 of each of the respective bracket assemblies 1, and is supported on the bracket clevis arms by means of a thru pin 16. The thru pin is preferably riveted over support the conductors above minimum elevation requirements, and to feed lead-in wires or conduit directly through the bore of the tubular mast to the meter box, which is connected at the lower end of the mast, and from there through a service conduit projecting into the building side wall. The present invention contemplates the provision of an insulated bracket or wireholder unit used in dead-ending the service tap conductors, and which unit includes a bracket member of integral construction which is mounted directly to the outer surface of a projecting mast member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bracket for pipe mounting, which is inherently strong and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which bracket supports a wireholder insulator in a clevis portion from an integral stamped member.

It is specifically an object of the present invention to provide a unitary bracket for simultaneously supporting a wireholder insulator and graspingly engaging a mast member, wherein said bracket is formed of a stamped member having clevis arms lanced from the body portion of the bracket, being bent outwardly therefrom and parallel relative to one another.

Further objects and advantages relating to details of the present assembly will be apparent from consideration of the following description and claims:

The preferred form fo my invention is illustrated o the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a service mast projecting from a building roof and having attached thereto wireholder brackets embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the improved bracket with a wireholder insulator in phantom view in mounting position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the bracket with the wireholder insulation being illustrated by full lines.

The wireholder assembly of the present invention includes bracket members each being generally designated by the reference numeral 1 in Fig. 1, and as shown mounted in a series of three members spaced vertically or flattened as shown at each end to prevent axial movement thereon. It will be apparent, however, that conventional spool insulators may be supported by the bracket where desired, without departing from the scope of the present invention, and especially where insulation of so-called triplex cable is installed. In the latter case, it will also be apparent that only one bracket will be needed for mounting on the mast arm.

Directing attention now to Figs. 2 and 3, the bracket 1 is shown in detail, and consists of a single unitary bracket member including a clevis portion C and a mast engaging portion M. The outer extremities of the arms 20 and 21 forming the mast portion M are provided with registering apertures for receiving a machine bolt and nut assembly 23 for use in tightening the unit directly in embracing engagement with the mast 2.

During fabrication of the unit, the blank may be formed either from strip or from sheet material as a single elongated member. The blank is then pierced and sheared to provide the various apertures and to trim the extremities. The lancing operation is performed on the blank to lance out the configuration of a generally U-shaped slot to provide the clevis arms 30 and 31. In addition the blank is further preferably embossed to provide the strengthening longitudinal bosses 32 and 33, respectively.

The next operation on the blank is to form the clevis arm portions 30 and 31 outwardly away from the mast engaging straps to provide a generally U-shaped clevis for receiving the insulator 15. The straps 20 and 2.1 are also formed in arcuate fashion for engaging the mast 2.

It will be noted that the integral formation completely eliminates the need for riveting two members together in back-to-back relationship, thus permitting shorter clevis arms 30 and 31 with the insulator member 15 being adapted to be seated immediately adjacent the integral fiat cross strap portion 35.

It will be apparent that the slot forming the clevis arms 30 and 31 may be extended beyond the longitudinal dimension of the arm (not shown) to accommodate the bolt and nut assembly 23 and eliminate the need for the additional aperture, if so desired.

The advantages of the present assembly are the one piece construction, which reduces assembly time and improves corrosion resistance by having the unit being fabricated of the same piece rather than of members having dissimilar materials which might set up galvanic action therebetween. In addition, there are no overlapping sur faces nor are there any rivets required to take up additional space. Additional strength is gained by placing the insulator closer to the base or strap 35, and immediately adjacent the supporting mast.

It will be apparent that an improved wireholder bracket assembly has been provided by the present invention, which is relatively simple in manufacture, saving expense in both time and money in materials and methods of fabrication, and one which provides adequate strength in both cantilever and dead-end pole. In addition, a wireholder has been provided which will provide adequate elevational clearance for use in modern-type dwellings and other buildings requiring service drop installation from tubular members such as pipe masts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A wireholder assembly adapted for mounting on a mast member comprising a unitary bracket member in cluding opposed pairs of bifurcated arms, and a base portion intermediate and integral with both of said pairs of arms, a first pair of said arms extending from said base portion and adapted for adjustable releasable connection with said mast member, and a second pair of said arms each of which are apertured near the free ends thereof to provide a clevis for supporting a wireholder insulator, thru pin means extending through each of the apertures in the free ends of said second pair of arms engageable with said wireholder insulator for retaining the latter one of said pairs of arms being formed from material lanced from respective arms of the other pair of arms and being bent upwardly from said base portion and oppositely relative to said other pair of arms.

2. A wireholder assembly adapted for mounting on a mast member comprising a unitary bracket member including opposed pairs of bifurcated arms, a base portion intermediate and integral with both of said pairs of arms, a first pair of said arms extending from said base portion and adapted for adjustable connection with said mast in each of the apertures of said free ends of said second pair of arms and disposed transversely thereto and generally parallel to said base portion to retain said wireholder insulator in engagement with said base portion and said second pair of arms, one of said pairs of arms being formed from material lanced from respective arms of the other pair of arms and being bent upwardly from said base portion and oppositely relative to said other pair of arms, and fastening means for securing said first pair of arms to said mast member.

3. A wireholder assembly adapted for mounting on a mast member comprising a unitary bracket member including opposed pairs of bifurcated arms, and a base portion intermediate and integral with both of said pairs of arms, a first pair of said arms extending from said base portion and adapted to embracingly engage said mast member, and a second pair of said arms each of which is apertured near the free end thereof to provide a clevis for supporting a wireholder insulator, a through pin disposed in each of the apertures of said free ends of said second pair of arms and disposed transversely thereto and generally parallel to said base portion to retain said wireholder insulator in engagement with said base portion and said second pair of arms, said second pair of arms being formed from material lanced from respective arms of said firstpair of arms and being bent upwardly from said base portion and oppositely relative to said first pair of said arms, first and second inwardly directed strengthening bosses formed integrally with said second pair of arms, and adjustable clamping means associated with said first pair of arms and adapted to releasably engage the latter to efiect a connection to said mast member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,107 Darr Dec. 29, 1914 1,327,982 Burns Ian. 13, 1920 1,531,949 Johnson Mar. 31, 1925 1,767,575 Bujack June 24, 1930 2,315,739 Sale Apr. 6, 1943 

